Hamrick, of the first block of West County Street, was charged with murder and felony child abuse, according to police. Natalynn died at 11:47 a.m. Thursday. She had been in critical condition at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters since Saturday.

Hamrick is an airman 1st class stationed at Langley Air Force base. She is assigned to the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, which is considered military police. Hamrick has been stationed there since June 2009, according to Rick Haverinen, spokesman for Langley. Military pay stops when a person is jailed.

"The struggle of trying to make it is enough to make anyone snap," Hawes said. "We shouldn't jump to conclusions about her. She's not a monster. She has done something wrong, but we shouldn't judge her."

Hamrick told police she shook the girl while attempting to put her in a car seat in a parking lot in the 2000 block of Cunningham Drive, according to an affidavit for a search warrant that was filed in Hampton Circuit Court. The girl was injured sometime before 3:30 p.m., but police did not receive a call until 6:53 p.m., when her babysitter called and said she was unconscious. What happened between 3:30 p.m. and 6:53 p.m. has not been released by police.

A man who answered the phone at the child's babysitter's home Friday evening declined comment.